Newspaper-holder



No. 615,849. Patented Dec. l3, was. 0. H; HASTINGS.

NEWSPAPER HOLDER.

(Application filed Nov. 5, 1896-) (No Model.)

NITED STATES CHARLES H. HASTINGS,

NEWSPAPE OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

R-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,849, dated December 13, 1898.

Application filed November 5, 1 896 To all whmn it may concern..-

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. HASTINGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Newspaper-Holders; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to file-holders adapted for use in reading-rooms, its object being to secure a light and efficient holder and one which shall be easily adjusted to the papers which it is intended to hold.

The invention consists in a handle, from the end of which projects a rigid rod, to which is attached a pair of spring-actuated jaws which are adapted to hold the file of papers.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a side elevation of my improved file-holder in use; Fig. 2, a rear elevation of the same, some portions being broken away to show the internal construction; Fig. 8, an end elevation when in use; Fig. 4, an end elevation with the jaws open; Fig. 5, a transverse section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2, the broken-away portions, however, being restored; Fig. 6, a side elevation of a support or carrier for the holder, and Fig. 7 a transverse section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

The handle A is of ordinary form for the convenient grasp of the user. A straight rod B extends from the end of the handle and is rigidly fixed therein. A pair of jaws C D, arranged longitudinally as to the rod, are secured to the latter by means, respectively, of the collars c o c and d d 01 to which they are respectively attached by means of screws, as e e. Springs, as F G H, of any desired number are wound upon the rod B, their ends reacting one against the back of each of the jaws C D, so as to force them together along one of their edges. The collars, by means of which the jaws are attached to the rod, are preferably arranged in pairs, one member of each pair cooperating with each of thejaws, and the springs are placed between the two members of each of these pairs of collars, thereby preventing them from displacement.

. Serial No. 611,189. on model.)

The jaws are easily opened by the application of pressure to their rearward portions, which normally flare apart, by the thumb and finger of the user, and after the insertion of the file of papers X between their mandibles this pressure is released and the file is securely held.

For the purpose of giving the article a neat and fi nished appearance,as well as for the purpose of excluding dust and dirt, a limp back K may be applied in the form of a Strip of cloth or leather secured to the rearward portions of the jaws.

The jaws may be prevented from turning loosely upon the rod B by setting up one set of screws tightly against the rod, so as to look the collars of one of the jaws against rotation.

The rearward portions of the jaws are provided with longitudinal laterally-projecting shoulders 0, which afford convenient means for supporting the file of papers within a sheath having a T-groove. Such sheath may be formed of a piece of sheet metal M, curved so as to cause its edges to face each other, so as to form a slotted tube, within which the wide back of the file-holder may be inserted, the slot being wide enough to accommodate its mandibles. This sheath may be secured to the under surface of a shelf or table by means of the screws m, and a number of such sheaths may be arranged side by side and in close proximity, so that a large number of sets of files may be stored in a very limited space and yet in no wise interfere. The sheath M may be formed in any other way or of any other material, it being essential only that it present in cross-section the form substantially of a T-groove.

I claim-=- The combination with a newspaper-holder comprising a pair of spring-actuated jaws each having a longitudinal laterally-projecting shoulder, of a sheath or support for the holder, having a T- groove, and adapted for attachment to the under side of a shelf or table.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES II. HASTINGS.

Witnesses:

LOUIS K. GILLSON, ISABEL A. HELMIOH. 

